“Your works are wonderful. I know that full well.”
These words from Psalm 139 sound like a typical statement of praise stating that God’s creation is wonderful. I can join the Psalmist in looking out over a majestic mountain range or a glimmering body of water, gazing up at a canvas of stars in the night sky or marveling at the intricacy of a dragonfly wing.
But the thing is that these words come directly after he writes, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Yes, everything God has made, from the smallest insect to the grandest vista, is fearfully and wonderfully made. But the Psalmist is talking about humanity. Not even humanity in a general sense, but humanity in a very particular sense. The Psalmist is talking about himself.
I know the forsythia out my window and the early spring green and the sunset are marvelous. But me? Me?
Do I—in my broken and limited body and broken and limited sense of self—praise God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made? Do I rejoice in this body, this mind, this heart, this person? Even if I can quote the words of this Psalm by heart, do I know the truths of these words—full well?
What an invitation we are all given here, to rejoice in how God has made us, full well.
More with Amy Julia:
- Lenten Reflection | Psalm 139
- Free Resource: 5 Ways to Experience God’s Love
- When God Looks at Us with Love
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